Therapeutic moist-heat-treatment apparatus



Feb. 28, 1956 c. c. ALEXANDER 2,736,317

THERAPEUTIC MOIST-HEAT-TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 United States Patent THERAPEUTIC MOIST-HEAT-TREATMENT APPARATUS Clara C. Alexander, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Application January 5, 1955, Serial No. 479,951

Claims. (Cl. 128-254) This invention relates to therapeutic moist-heat treatment apparatus, and one object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described whereby moist heat may be easily and readily applied exteriorly to the human body, over a specific area, while the supply thereof is completely under the control of the patient or the nurse, thus preventing any danger of blistering the body.

Another object of the invention is to construct the said apparatus so that it may be taken apart, cleaned and renovated.

In its broadest conception an apparatus within this invention comprises a porous heat-resistant element in the form of a pad throughout which may flow a steady, and regulated, supply of vaporous steam to the parts of the body to be treated for the purpose of easing pain; a suitable fabric covering for the porous pad to keep it from direct contact with the body to prevent blistering; a cap impervious to steam, covering the top and the sides of the pad so that the moist steam can only pass from the pad through the bottom or under side thereof in con tact with the body; a cap of suitable fabric covering the top and sides of the first-mentioned cap, and an insulated conduit coupled to said first-mentioned cap to pass moist steam therethrough into said pad, as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. l is an isometric perspective view of the preferred form of apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

The drawings show the preferred form of the apparatus, though it must be understood that the shape thereof may be varied to embrace the arms and legs.

The porous pad 2 may be of any shape or form and be made of any suitable porous heat-resistant material, such as cellulose. Surrounding the pad 2 is a covering 3 of any suitable fabric through which the steam may readily pass. Covering the sides and top of the fabric-covered pad 2 is a cap 4 made of suitable material that will not be injured by the moist steam, and yet be impervious to steam, such as Bakelite or sheet rubber. Embracing the top and sides of the cap 4 is a cap 5 made of any suitable fabric and of suflicient thickness to insulate the hands of the user of the apparatus from the cap 4.

A controlled supply of steam is fed to the pad 2 through a conduit 6 which passes through and is suitably coupled to the cap 4. To insulate the conduit 6 from the hands of the user of the apparatus this conduit is surrounded by a handle 7, made of any suitable material such as rubber or cork. In Fig. 2 the lower end of the handle '7 is shown as passing through the cap 4. Lateral support may be given the handle 7 by any suitable means, such as a neck 8 forming part of the cap 5.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 allows flexibility for the handle, thus contributing to ease in handling the apparatus.

Any suitable means may be used to hold the cap 4, if made of sheet rubber, in contact with the top and sides of the fabric covering 3. The means shown consists of displaceable strips 9 of tape. These strips may be secured to the sides of the cap 4 and the sides of the pad 2, as by stitches 10. These strips 9 may be made of one piece, or of two parts tied together, as shown at 11 in Fig. 3. These retaining tapes are not essential.

In this specification and the claims forming part there of the words heat-resistant mean that an element may conduct the moist heat without being injured thereby.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a heat-resistant porous pad; flexible means over the top, bottom and sides of said pad pervious to the passage of moist steam generally therethrough; a flexible impervious cap covering the top and sides of said pervious means; an insulated conduit held by and opening through said impervious means whereby moist heat is supplied to said pad; and flexible means to insulate said pervious means and said impervious means against contact with any part of the body.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising the combination of a suitable porous pad throughout which vaporous steam may pass; a fabric covering for said pad; a cap of suitable heat-resistant impervious material contacting the top and sides of said fabric covering; a flexible fabric cap contacting the top and sides of said first-mentioned cap; a conduit carried by said firstmentioned cap to supply moist steam therethrough to said porous pad, and means to insulate said conduit and give support thereto and function as a handle.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that the pad is made of cellulose.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that the means supporting and insulating the conduit comprises a neck integrally formed with said fabric cap, and a handle made of any suitable insulating material surrounding said conduit and mounted at its inner end in said neck.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that displaceable strips of tape are passed over the top and sides of said first-mentioned cap and attached to said porous pad at opposing sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

